The US Senate has narrowly voted to begin a debate on a bill to end the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.
The US Senate has narrowly voted to begin a debate on a bill to end the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare.
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With the Senate deadlocked on 50-50, Vice-President Mike Pence used his tie-breaking vote.
Scrapping the policy was a key Trump campaign pledge.
Senator John McCain, who was recently diagnosed with brain cancer, turned up to cast his “yes” vote.
President Trump had earlier warned Republican senators that there may be repercussions if they didn’t push through the measures.
So he was thankful for the support he got. He told reporters: “ I just want to thank some of the Republican senators who were really fantastic in getting this here, particularly John McCain for making the trip. But I think you’re going to have a great healthcare. This is the beginning of the end for the disaster known as Obamacare.”
But speaking to demonstrators from the steps of the Capitol, Democrats called on Americans to protest against Republicans’ plans to dismantle the health law introduced by Barack Obama.
It meant all Americans were required to have health insurance or pay a tax penalty.
It is unclear which aspects of the reform senators will now debate